Kathmandu, November 18
There are rumours that the CPN-UML is not on the same page over the Constitution amendment proposal that the government is preparing to present in the Parliament. Leaders of the ruling CPN-Maoist Centre hope UML Chair KP Oli will help them amend the Charter, something which the Madhav Nepal camp in the UML dreads.
A leader from the Nepal camp told Onlinekhabar: We fear that our Comrade Chairman Oli may make some compromise on the Lokman (Lokman Singh Karki) case and Constitution amendment. Introduction of constitutional provisions on redrawing of provincial boundaries is not acceptable to the UML.
Meanwhile, after meeting Oli, Centre Chair and Prime Minister Prachanda is hopeful that Oli may support his government’s Charter amendment proposal. PM has been conveying this to those close to him.
PM is trying every bit to register the amendment proposal in the House by taking the UML into confidence.
Does it mean that Oli is getting soft on the proposal, whereas the Nepal camp is toughening its stance on the same? The Centre thinks Nepal and Bamdev Gautam are toughening their stance, whereas Oli is adopting a reconciliatory approach?
Talking to Onlinekhabar, Shankar Pokharel, who is from the Oli camp, said: The UML stands united on Constitution amendment. We stand firmly against bids to change the boundaries of Province 5 and grant political rights to naturalised citizens.
UML Chair has been articulating the same stance (on these issues) throughout, Pokharel said, adding that Centre’s hopes (that Oli will support the amendment bid) and the Nepal camp’s fears are far from reality.
Talking at a programme on Thursday, Oli had indicated that his stance had not changed a bit.
